Rs 500 note leads to brawl at Matunga eatery
An argument over higher denomination notes led to a brawl between a group of patrons and staff at a Matunga eatery on Thursday night. Six of the restaurant staff, including the manager, have been arrested and charged for rioting, criminal intimidation, assault and breach of peace.
The complainant, Nilesh Mehar, 31, said that he and his friends, including a woman, offered to settle a bill of Rs 580 at Ganga Vihar restaurant in Matunga (W) using the scrapped Rs 500 note after the card transaction couldn’t go through. Mehar said that he was a frequent visitor at the eatery, and also offered to settle the bill through cheque.
“It was already 10.30 pm and we told the restaurant staff that we can issue them a cheque. The card transaction couldn’t go through despite being swiped four times. The restaurant cashier demanded that we give him a Rs 1,000 note, and we could collect the balance amount the next day or adjust it in the bill the next time we would visit the eatery,” Mehar said in his complaint.
Senior Inspector Milind Idekar from Mahim Police Station, where the case has been filed, said that a police patrol vehicle witnessed a crowd outside the eatery premises and broke up the fight.
“The group of patrons and the eatery staff were brought to the police station after which an offence was registered. Six people, including the manager of the restaurant, the cashier and four waiters, were arrested,” Idekar said, adding that all accused are already out on bail.
The complainant, Nilesh Mehar, 31, said that he and his friends, including a woman, offered to settle a bill of Rs 580 at Ganga Vihar restaurant in Matunga (W) using the scrapped Rs 500 note after the card transaction couldn’t go through. Mehar said that he was a frequent visitor at the eatery, and also offered to settle the bill through cheque.
“It was already 10.30 pm and we told the restaurant staff that we can issue them a cheque. The card transaction couldn’t go through despite being swiped four times. The restaurant cashier demanded that we give him a Rs 1,000 note, and we could collect the balance amount the next day or adjust it in the bill the next time we would visit the eatery,” Mehar said in his complaint.
The complainant and his friends argued that if the eatery could accept Rs 1,000 note, it could also take Rs 500 note, resulting in further arguments and eventually an assault on Mehar and his friends by the staff.
Senior Inspector Milind Idekar from Mahim Police Station, where the case has been filed, said that a police patrol vehicle witnessed a crowd outside the eatery premises and broke up the fight.
“The group of patrons and the eatery staff were brought to the police station after which an offence was registered. Six people, including the manager of the restaurant, the cashier and four waiters, were arrested,” Idekar said, adding that all accused are already out on bail.
